THE BONACKERS Documentary
Produced & Directed by
Joanne Friedland Roberts
THE BONACKERS is the story of the fiercely independent men and women whose families have fished and farmed the land and seas of the east end of Long Island for almost 400 years. Struggling to survive in the midst of the mansion filled Hamptons, they may well be the last of their kind.
Holding onto their traditions in spite of ever-increasing obstacles, the Bonackers wisdom, challenges, stories and sagas unfold as we head out onto their boats and bays, and into their pick-up trucks, farms and fields. Historic footage from Local TV East Hampton’s “hidden archive,” and photographs from Adelaide de Menil’s “Men’s Lives Project” are layered throughout, along with the songs of the sea.
Can the Bonackers endure the escalating hardships they experience year after year? We’ll find out in our 60-minute documentary.
THE BONACKERS survival story, and a series of community conversations, inspire us to think more deeply about what we all stand to lose, if centuries old cultures like this one disappear, and all that’s left is housed in museums.
THE BONACKERS Documentary Airing On WLIW 21 in Celebration of Earth Week
Thursday, April 24th, 2025 at 8 PM
We’re delighted THE BONACKERS first TV broadcast will air on our local PBS Station, WLIW 21!
Whether you live on Long Island, New York City’s five boroughs, Westchester, New Jersey or Connecticut, you’ll be able to watch THE BONACKERS prime time event.
So tune in on Thursday, April 24th, 2025 at 8 PM!
If you’re out east on Thursday the 24th, come join us for a watch party that night at St. Luke’s Church in East Hampton, 18 James Lane.
THE BONACKERS will be broadcast from 8 PM to 9PM. There’s a half hour interview with me and Hari Sreenivasan right afterward.
We’ll keep you posted about upcoming broadcasts and screenings!
We hope you’ll want to be part of our project!
The Bonackers is sponsored by the New York Foundation for the Arts NYFA), a 501(c)3, tax-exempt organization.
CELEBRATING BONAC COMMUNITY EVENT
at The Springs Historical Society & Community Library
East Hampton, NY
In October 2024, we held our fifth community gathering at Springs Historical Society & Community Library in collaboration with THE BONACKERS PROJECT and the Peter Matthiessen Center (PMC.) Wisdom keepers, baymen, and longtime locals shared sea shanties, stories, and traditions, with displays of decoy carving, quilts, pound traps, clamming techniques, whaling relics and wampum.
CELEBRATING BONAC COMMUNITY EVENT
at The East Hampton
Historical Farm Museum
East Hampton, NY
In September 2024, the East Hampton Historical Farm Museum, THE BONACKERS PROJECT and the Peter Matthiessen Center invited the East End community to “Speaking Bonac: Tales, Traditions and Wisdom.”
Linguist Dr. Nicholas Biniaz- Harris, Prudence Talmage Carabine, and Albie Lester introduced us to this unique way of speaking, in conversation with longtime locals.
Members of the Bonac community shared wisdom, wit and insights into a culture that’s at the heart of our community.
THE BONACKERS COMMUNITY GATHERING
at Clinton Academy’s
“Finest Kind” Exhibit
East Hampton, NY
In March 2024, The East Hampton Historical Society’s Educational Director Stacy Myers, invited us to host a small gathering of the local community at Clinton Academy’s “Finest Kind” exhibit.
The Academy’s walls were filled with photographs originally taken between 1981-1985 as part of Adelaide de Menil’s “Men’s Lives Project,” a venture she created to preserve the stories and history of the East End fishermen.
The room was filled with locals reconnecting with Adelaide, sharing memories and stories, and pointing out images of themselves, family members, and friends on the Academy’s walls.
CELEBRATING BONAC
at The East Hampton
Historical Farm Museum
East Hampton, NY
“An Afternoon of History, Traditions & Tales of Persistence,” opened with the short concept trailer for THE BONACKERS documentary, produced by Joanne Friedland Roberts. The trailer was a springboard for a lively conversation and Q&A about the history, struggles, and resilience of the Bonac community, the East End’s indigenous population, and East Hampton’s Freetown.
The conversation, led by the East Hampton Historical Farm Museum’s Founder, Prudence Talmage Carabine, included Deanna Tikkanen, Audrey Gaines, and Peter Van Scoyoc,.
CELEBRATING BONAC
at The Duck Creek Arts Center
East Hampton, NY
Our first event was a collaboration with the Peter Matthiessen Center that took place at the Duck Creek Arts Center in October 2023.
Participants explored cultural arts passed down through the generations, discovering the Bonac community’s unique history and lifestyle. Wisdom keepers, baymen and longtime locals shared tales, songs, stories and traditions–with displays of centuries-old crafts, decoy carving, fishing traps, wampum jewelry and beads. A traditional Native American blessing, sea shanties from the whaling days, and readings from Peter Matthiessen's 1986 classic Men’s Lives brought our diverse community together.
photos © Adelaide de Menil • Rock Foundation
Concept Trailer
This 9-minute concept trailer served as a visual storyboard for THE BONACKERS 60-minute documentary. Shot with an iPhone and layered with historic footage and photographs it was created to generate partners and funding for our recently completed documentary.
East
Hampton Press
October 10, 2024
Joanne Friedland
Roberts
Producer/Director
I started out as an educator and I’ve been producing TV shows, videos and websites for as long as I can remember. Running my own production company and working with major media companies like CBS, NBC, ABC/Disney, Nickelodeon and Sesame Workshop, I’ve won lots of awards along the way.
Over the years, I’ve created programming for institutions like PBS, the Smithsonian, the Brennan Center for Justice, and schools and museums across the country. I’ve always been drawn to content that builds community, sparks action and inspires change.
The Bonackers is my directorial debut and first independent documentary, and I'm passionate about introducing people to this little-known community on the east end of Long Island, sharing their salt of the sea sagas, wisdom, culture, and traditions. We’ve been generating awareness about their struggles with community-based conversations too.
Thank you for joining me on this venture!